PA Jobs Up in October; Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.1 Percent

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania added 7,500 jobs in October, bringing the state’s jobs count to a total of 5,752,200, the highest level since November 2008.

In addition, the number of jobs added to the Pennsylvania economy in the private sector since January 2011 increased to 105,700.

The October job growth was concentrated in service-providing industries, which increased by 7,100 to a record high of 4,929,800. Service-providing industries include businesses such as retail stores, banks, hospitals and restaurants. The largest increase in October was a gain of 4,000 education and health services jobs, followed closely by a 3,700 increase in trade, transportation and utilities.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in October, down one-tenth of a percentage point from the September rate of 8.2 percent.

The state’s labor force, which includes people with jobs and those actively looking for work, was up 31,000 in October, to a record high level of 6,536,000. This was the second largest single-month increase on record, signaling renewed confidence in the Pennsylvania economy.